Open Forum

Our front-line staff is college students, typically aged 18-22. They have no money-handling duties but are tasked with being welcoming, answering questions, providing light security, and handling any guest emergencies.

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Lois Miklas
Phillips Museum of Art at Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster PA
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With proper training, could they help do some visitor studies and collect data? Since they're present in the galleries, they are in a unique position to carry out observations and record some data which could help the Museum and give them a concrete task. Again - they'd need training and guidance from a Visitor Studies professional to understand how to collect the data and why it's important to do so, etc. 

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Claudia Ocello
President & CEO
Museum Partners Consulting, LLC
Maplewood NJ
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Hi Lois, this is a great question, this is what I do with my museum volunteers and FWS. I provide comprehensive orientation and skill-building workshops before they start. Use professional training guidelines and ask them to have evaluation and feedback on themselves and the team.

And use some interactive tools to make their roles more engaging, like offering them chances to ask visitors to take surveys, involved with interviews, etc. Give them specific and detailed tasks daily and weekly, and make sure they understand the roles and the visitors' inquiries.

Last, give them opportunities to have personal and career growth and development.

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Zida Wang PhD
Museum Educator
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Hi Lois,

I would second Claudias point. People are more engaged with what they are doing if they feel that they are contributing to something. Having the attendants collecting data or making observations on visitors is a good start. I think it would be important to follow up so they can see how the data they collected is being applied. Without the latter part they would just be throwing information into a hole. 

This applies to any work that people engage with. Its important to see how your time and effort are being utilized.

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Conrad Canedo
Traveling Exhibitions Production Supervisor
Field Museum of Natural History
Chicago IL
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Dear Lois

I agree with others, and in my experience as a volunteer it's also good to have your front desk people know the exhibits that are up in your museum. I always liked to go look at the special exhibits at the museums I volunteered at and the permanent collection. That way, I was able to answer questions better. I hope that is helpful.

Thank You,

Rachel 

nt desk 

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Rachel Alschuler
Museum Education/ Visitor Experience
San Francisco CA
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